Oxygen Not Included

Oxygen Not Included game image

Overwhelmingly Positive

Total: 44.1 ThousandPositive: 42.3 ThousandNegative: 1.75 Thousand
96%
4%
Steam review score: 9

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AI Review

Oxygen Not Included is a space-colony simulation game that challenges you to manage resources, build thriving bases, and keep your duplicants alive in the harsh environment of an alien asteroid. With a 90.16% AI Community Rating, players praise its addictive gameplay, deep mechanics, and creative problem-solving. The game combines resource management, thermodynamics, and stress simulations to create a uniquely challenging experience. Fans love its complexity and replayability, calling it 'fun' and 'addictive,' but some find the steep learning curve and lack of a comprehensive tutorial frustrating. While the mid-to-late game could use more tools and content, the community appreciates the frequent updates and developer support. If you enjoy strategic, detail-oriented simulations, Oxygen Not Included offers endless hours of engaging gameplay. Just remember: survival is hard, but thriving is even harder!

What the community wishes

Add comprehensive tutorial system
Players struggle with the steep learning curve due to the lack of a tutorial. A comprehensive in-game tutorial system would help new players understand the game mechanics without relying on external guides or videos.
Improve Research UI usability
The Research UI is overwhelming and not user-friendly. Simplifying the interface and making it more intuitive would improve the overall user experience, especially for new players.
Expand mid-to-late game tools
The mid-to-late game feels limited due to a lack of new tools. Introducing more unique and meaningful tools or systems could enhance creativity and progression in later stages.
Enhance germ system mechanics
The germ system feels underdeveloped and lacks depth. Expanding its mechanics and making it more impactful would add another layer of challenge and realism to the game.
Add difficulty customization options
Players want more control over difficulty settings, such as re-enabling disease and tantrum spirals. Adding customizable difficulty options would cater to both casual and hardcore players.
Improve tooltip and in-game documentation
Many mechanics and objects lack clear explanations in-game. Enhancing tooltips and the in-game database would reduce reliance on external resources and improve accessibility.
Optimize game speed options
The game's speed settings feel too slow, even at the highest setting. Adding faster speed options or optimizing existing ones would improve pacing and reduce downtime.
Address heat management dominance
Heat management becomes overly dominant in the mid-to-late game. Balancing other systems to be equally impactful would diversify gameplay and reduce repetitive focus on heat.
Add more biome variety
Players want more diverse biomes to explore and build in. Introducing new biomes with unique challenges and resources would enhance replayability and exploration.
Improve duplicant AI behavior
Duplicants sometimes exhibit frustrating or illogical behavior, such as ignoring bathrooms or destroying equipment. Enhancing AI decision-making would reduce micromanagement and improve immersion.
Add more endgame content
The endgame lacks meaningful challenges and goals. Introducing more endgame content, such as advanced technologies or colony-wide objectives, would extend gameplay longevity.
Improve resource balance and scarcity
Resource management becomes overly stressful as resources deplete quickly. Adjusting resource availability and consumption rates would make the game more balanced and less punishing.
Add more visual feedback for systems
Players want clearer visual feedback for systems like heat, gases, and liquids. Enhancing visual indicators would help players better understand and manage these mechanics.
Expand on automation options
Automation is a key feature, but players want more advanced options. Introducing more complex automation tools and logic gates would allow for deeper system optimization.
Add more narrative or story elements
The game lacks a narrative or story-driven component. Adding optional story elements or events would provide more context and motivation for colony management.
Improve multiplayer or co-op support
Players have expressed interest in multiplayer or co-op modes. Adding multiplayer support would allow for collaborative colony management and expand the game's appeal.
Add more customization options for dupes
Players want more control over duplicant traits and abilities. Introducing more customization options would allow for more personalized and strategic colony management.
Optimize performance for large colonies
Performance can degrade with larger colonies. Optimizing the game to handle larger-scale colonies more efficiently would improve the late-game experience.
Add more random events or challenges
The game could benefit from more random events or challenges to keep gameplay dynamic. Introducing unpredictable events would add excitement and variety to colony management.
Expand on DLC content and features
Players want more substantial DLC content with new features and mechanics. Expanding on DLC offerings would provide more value and extend the game's lifespan.

Reviews

Toxicity trend

N-Grams

great time sinkfun to mintoo much stressbest thing toreal masterpiece EDITtruly think thisvery pleasing timesinknever-deinstalled games insuper supportive Thisvery steep learningmust-play The updatesso much depthtrue gem It'stop 10 favoritesvery time-consuming andextremely intuitive andgreat game designPHENOMENAL game none-the-lessexcellent game It

Keywords

What the community loves
fun
22
addictive
6
good
6
great
6
10/10
5
recommend
5
updates
4
best
4
community
4
love
4
intricate
4
improve
3
gem
3
interesting
3
explore
3
Where the community is undecided
colony
10
resources
7
survival
6
DLC
5
management
5
base
5
oxygen
5
learning
4
time
4
systems
4
play
4
mechanics
3
colonies
3
mods
3
challenging
3
What the community dislikes
frustrating
7
recommend
5
dumb
5
error
4
refund
4
hard
3
tedious
3
money
3
complicated
3
stupid
3
waste
3
infuriating
3
annoying
3
stressful
3
germs
3

In-depth analysis of most impactful community reviews

Positive

Oxygen Not Included isn't about helping your colony survive or thrive. It's about over engineering every tiny detail that doesn't necessarily need to be solved in order to iron out every flaw in your colony until your colony can live forever without you. This might take some of your time...

  • Sentiments

    • I feel that Oxygen Not Included is not focused on helping the colony survive or thrive, which gives a sense of detachment from the core survival mechanics.
    • I appreciate the game's emphasis on over-engineering every tiny detail, as it allows for deep problem-solving and creativity.
    • I find it slightly frustrating that some details don't necessarily need to be solved, as it can feel like unnecessary complexity.
    • I enjoy the challenge of ironing out every flaw in the colony, as it provides a satisfying sense of accomplishment.
    • I feel that the game's goal of making the colony live forever without player intervention is a unique and intriguing concept.
    • I think the game might take a significant amount of time to master, which could be overwhelming for some players.

Positive

I recommend this game for anyone who likes attention to detail type games. It's like your own personal Ant farm with options. Although i have THOUSANDS of hours in this game, i still don't think i'm very good at it but love the early game setup for a colony. i find myself redoing that on different maps over and over. The dupes are just dumb enough i have to pay attention to them but not dumb enough i have to mico manage each one. Great time sink.

  • Sentiments

    • I recommend this game for anyone who likes attention to detail type games, as it provides a satisfying experience for players who enjoy intricate gameplay.
    • I find the game to be like a personal Ant farm with options, which makes it engaging and customizable.
    • I have spent thousands of hours in this game, which shows how deeply engaging and immersive it is for me.
    • I still don't think I'm very good at the game despite the extensive time spent, but this doesn't diminish my enjoyment.
    • I love the early game setup for a colony, as it is a fun and rewarding part of the gameplay.
    • I find myself redoing the early game setup on different maps repeatedly, which highlights the replayability of the game.
    • The dupes (characters) are just dumb enough that I have to pay attention to them, but not so dumb that I need to micromanage each one, making the gameplay balanced.
    • The game is a great time sink, which I appreciate as it provides long-lasting entertainment.

Positive

Nearly 1200 hours and counting. I can't believe this game even exists and I dread the day I may not be able to play it. Honestly it's a base building colony game with so much depth, freedom, and complexity to thrill a wide range of gamers. Beyond that it lets me express creativity and pushes me to problem solve in a way that truly satisfies. Maybe not for everyone but I truly think this game is a marvel and I've encountered few games that rival it's longevity and charm.

  • Sentiments

    • I have spent nearly 1200 hours playing this game and still find it incredibly engaging, which shows how much I value and enjoy it.
    • I can't believe this game even exists, which reflects my awe and admiration for its creation and design.
    • I dread the day I may not be able to play this game, indicating how deeply attached I am to it and how much it means to me.
    • This game is a base-building colony game with immense depth, freedom, and complexity, which I find thrilling and satisfying.
    • The game allows me to express creativity in ways that truly satisfy me, making it a unique and enjoyable experience.
    • It pushes me to problem-solve in a way that feels rewarding and fulfilling, which I greatly appreciate.
    • I truly think this game is a marvel, highlighting my high regard and admiration for its quality and design.
    • I've encountered few games that rival its longevity and charm, emphasizing how special and enduring I find this game.
    • This game may not be for everyone, but I personally find it exceptional and highly enjoyable.

Positive

I usually wait a bit more before reviewing complex games, but at 36 hours I can already say this is a true gem. It's a beautiful mix of Dwarf Fortress, Rimworld and Factorio, with a bit of Terraria when it comes to progressing between various biomes. Everything in this game is incredibly polished. I love how everything is animated with great detail, from the duplicants to the tiniest devices like sensors or logic gates. And the interface, which can be a major issue in games like this, is extremely intuitive and full of informations. The one single issue I have with this game is the lack of a tutorial. You can go blind and figure everything by yourself, but I strongly suggest watching a couple guides or videos to get started. If you like complex management games, you will spend countless hours on this. At 36 hours and several re-starts, I think I've barely finished the early game. EDIT: almost 300 hours in the game and I can 100% confirm everything. A real masterpiece. EDIT 2: year 2024, still playing this game, well over 1000 hours. I've been a videogamer since the mid 90s and Oxygen not Included is definitely in my all-time top three.

  • Sentiments

    • I find this game to be a true gem, as it combines elements from Dwarf Fortress, Rimworld, Factorio, and Terraria, creating a unique and enjoyable experience.
    • I am impressed by how polished everything in the game is, from the detailed animations of duplicants to the smallest devices like sensors and logic gates.
    • I appreciate the intuitive and informative interface, which is a significant improvement over similar games where interfaces can be problematic.
    • I feel that the lack of a tutorial is a drawback, as it requires players to either figure things out on their own or seek external guides to get started.
    • I believe this game is perfect for fans of complex management games, as it offers countless hours of engaging gameplay.
    • I have spent 36 hours in the game and feel like I have barely scratched the surface, indicating its depth and replayability.
    • After almost 300 hours, I can confidently confirm that this game is a real masterpiece, living up to my initial impressions.
    • Even in 2024, I am still playing this game, having logged well over 1000 hours, which speaks to its lasting appeal and quality.
    • As a gamer since the mid-90s, I consider Oxygen Not Included to be one of my all-time top three games, highlighting its exceptional standing in my gaming experience.

Positive

Hands down the hardest game I've ever played, it took me over 70 hours of trial and error just to have a colony actually survive to day 100. Now I have almost 30 hours into one save file and I am finally making progress! Absolutely would not recommend to anyone with a family or a job, but a PHENOMENAL game none-the-less. Easily makes my top 10 favorites list and i literally may never beat it...

  • Sentiments

    • I found the game to be incredibly challenging, as it took me over 70 hours of trial and error just to have a colony survive to day 100.
    • I am finally making progress after almost 30 hours into one save file, which feels rewarding.
    • I would not recommend this game to anyone with a family or a job due to its demanding nature.
    • Despite its difficulty, I consider this game to be phenomenal and one of my top 10 favorites.
    • I may never beat the game, which adds to its allure and replayability for me.
    • The game's difficulty makes it a unique and memorable experience for me.
    • I appreciate the sense of accomplishment that comes with making progress in such a challenging game.
    • The time investment required to succeed in this game is significant, which could be a drawback for some players.
    • I find the game's difficulty to be both frustrating and rewarding, creating a mixed emotional experience.
    • The game's challenging nature makes it stand out as a top-tier experience for me.

Negative

It seems it is impossible to enjoy this game without having a degree in physics, math, and thermodynamics first. Very, very, very steep learning curve, it required watching hours of videos and reading guides on how to make things properly. Failure is mandatory until you know how endgame looks like, what to build in what order, but need to reach endgame first somehow. There are way too numerous problems that can occur to mess up all base, like running out of resources, or not spawning good geysers, or overheat, or duplicants being stressed and start vomiting all around the base... Price of errors is high, timer is ticking because oxygen and food are running out. The game is very time-consuming and somewhat stressful. Quited after one of duplicant got way too much stress no idea why and started to destroy tiles and very expensive steel buildings I spend two days aquiring.

  • Sentiments

    • I feel that the game has an extremely steep learning curve, requiring extensive knowledge in physics, math, and thermodynamics to enjoy it properly.
    • I found it necessary to spend hours watching videos and reading guides just to understand how to progress in the game.
    • I experienced constant failure until I could grasp what the endgame looks like and the proper order of building things.
    • I encountered numerous problems that could ruin my base, such as running out of resources, bad geyser spawns, overheating, and stressed duplicants causing chaos.
    • I felt the game was very time-consuming and stressful, with a constant ticking timer due to limited oxygen and food.
    • I quit the game after one of my duplicants became overly stressed for no apparent reason and destroyed expensive steel buildings I had spent days acquiring.
    • I found the price of errors in the game to be very high, which added to the overall stress and frustration.
    • I felt that the game required reaching the endgame to truly understand how to play, but getting there was a significant challenge.
    • I noticed that the game mechanics, such as managing resources and duplicant stress, were complex and required careful planning.
    • I experienced a sense of accomplishment when I managed to progress, but it was overshadowed by the overwhelming difficulty and stress.

Negative

Really enjoyable in the early phases of the game as you find out the game systems and mechanics. As you move into the midgame, managing pollution, oxygen, etc becomes tedious and your progression continues, but much of your focus will be on micromanaging resources.

  • Sentiments

    • I found the early phases of the game really enjoyable as I discovered the game systems and mechanics.
    • I felt that managing pollution, oxygen, and other resources in the midgame became tedious.
    • I noticed that progression continues in the midgame, but it requires a lot of focus on micromanaging resources.

Negative

I dunno, it's just isn't as enticing as I thought. I mean every time you solve a problem another problem shows up, but it it seems more event based than system based. Trying to back up and fix things is a challenge, which is weird for a base builder because it is an ever-changing thing. I didn't really get enthralled when starting and I kind of wish I could return it.

  • Sentiments

    • I feel that the game isn't as enticing as I initially thought it would be, which is disappointing.
    • I find it frustrating that every time I solve a problem, another problem immediately arises, making the gameplay feel repetitive.
    • I perceive the game to be more event-based rather than system-based, which doesn't align with my expectations.
    • I struggle with trying to back up and fix things in the game, which feels unnecessarily challenging for a base-building game.
    • I think the ever-changing nature of the base-building aspect makes it difficult to manage and enjoy.
    • I didn't feel enthralled or engaged when starting the game, which was a letdown.
    • I kind of wish I could return the game because it didn't meet my expectations or provide the enjoyment I was hoping for.

Negative

Seeing as Klei is still owned majority by Tencent, they're hard to avoid and thats not going to change anytime soon, here's a normal review. I want Klei to be independent again, and it sucks that they're owned by such a shitty stock holder. ONI does a lot right by starting at the fundamentals of simulationist colony management, every element works more or less as expected from heat to liquids to exposure to vacuum. Initial success is mainly around keeping your Dupes alive in simple ways, and the rest is managing various systems to keep it that way and keep expanding your operation. Most of the depictions of the simulation are factual, or at least logical enough for you to puzzle your way to a successful and thriving colony. It tickles the part of my brain that likes being presented with a bunch of resources and problems to solve, and then finding various ways and means to solve it. My main critique is that it feels like a lot of the mid to late game is all about managing heat distribution, some systems are underbaked like the Germ one, and you're given less and less meaningfully new or unique tools to manage your colony as time goes on. This may be done to spur creativity with existing tools, but it does often feel like after a certain point in the game they are arbitrarily limiting your progress to what you can bodge together from sometimes ill fitting tools. I like the game a lot, I just wish that supporting Klei didn't mean supporting Tencent.

  • Sentiments

    • I feel conflicted about supporting Klei because they are majority-owned by Tencent, a company I dislike, and I wish Klei could be independent again.
    • I appreciate that Oxygen Not Included (ONI) starts with strong fundamentals in simulationist colony management, where every element works as expected, such as heat, liquids, and exposure to vacuum.
    • I enjoy the initial challenge of keeping the Dupes alive and managing various systems to expand the colony, which feels rewarding and engaging.
    • I find the simulation depictions in ONI to be factual and logical, which allows me to puzzle my way to a successful and thriving colony.
    • I like how the game stimulates my problem-solving brain by presenting resources and challenges, encouraging creative solutions.
    • I feel that the mid to late game becomes overly focused on managing heat distribution, which feels repetitive and less engaging.
    • I think some systems, like the Germ system, are underdeveloped and could use more depth or refinement.
    • I feel that the game provides fewer meaningful or unique tools as it progresses, which limits creativity and makes progress feel arbitrary.
    • I like the game overall, but I wish supporting Klei didn’t involve supporting Tencent, which diminishes my enthusiasm.
    • I appreciate the creativity required to use existing tools in the late game, even though it sometimes feels like progress is artificially limited.

Negative

It's a very detailed game, but for me, it was just too hard/complicated. The graphics were fun and it was good for a few hours, but as others have posted, to figure out any of the complex systems, you have to use YouTube/Reddit/wiki, etc. I'm ok with that for advanced strategies/gameplay, but for the beginning/midgame, I would like to be able to figure it out inside the game. Some the controls are a bit wonky. To upgrade something, you have to delete then rebuild (vs. just upgrading the item). In my play through, I upgraded a bunch of wires. Turns out that I didn't have enough material, so somehow the existing wire / electrical grid stopped working, I didn't notice, everything stopped and everyone ended up starving (I had some heating issues too). I know some people love this type of harshness, but not for me. So, for me, just too frustrating. I'm more into other base-builder/survival games: Factorio, Satisfactory, Captains of Industry, Timberborn (in that order) are all lots of fun ...

  • Sentiments

    • I found the game to be very detailed, which is a positive aspect, but it was too hard and complicated for my liking.
    • The graphics were fun and enjoyable, which made the game good for a few hours of play.
    • I felt that figuring out the complex systems required external help like YouTube, Reddit, or wikis, which was frustrating for me.
    • I expected to be able to understand the beginning and midgame mechanics within the game itself, but that wasn't the case.
    • Some of the controls felt wonky, especially the process of upgrading items by deleting and rebuilding them instead of a straightforward upgrade option.
    • I experienced a frustrating situation where my electrical grid stopped working due to insufficient materials, leading to catastrophic consequences like starvation and heating issues.
    • I understand that some players enjoy the harshness of the game, but it wasn't enjoyable for me.
    • Overall, I found the game too frustrating and not aligned with my preferences.
    • I prefer other base-builder/survival games like Factorio, Satisfactory, Captains of Industry, and Timberborn, which I find more fun.

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